INSECTS. 213 



finish the business. After ten minutes or so have 

 elapsed, the dead and dying insects should be 

 washed off the tree with pure water from a syringe 

 having the usual rose affixed to it. There is no 

 occasion to mention any other remedy for the rose 

 aphis ; all that have hitherto been given in the 

 rose books are more or less offensive, such as fumi- 

 gation, tobacco water, &c. The decoction of quassia 

 and soft soap is the least offensive and most 

 efficacious of all aphis remedies. In early spring, 

 often in March but more frequently in April, 

 the rose weevil * Otiorhynchus,' which hides itself 

 either in crevices of the bark or in the ground, 

 often commits great ravages by eating out the 

 centre of each bud, and seems to favour more 

 particularly nice plump buds in standard dog-rose 

 stocks about which you are more than usually 

 anxious. He can only be caught at night, and from 

 his dark brown coat and size approaching the 

 lady bird, a sharp eye and bright light must be 

 employed. 



In the ( merry month of May ' the rose cater- 

 pillar makes his appearance; he may soon be 

 detected, for he glues a leaf or two together to 

 form his habitation. As soon as such leaves are 

 perceived and every morning the trees should be 

 examined these glued leaves should be squeezed 

 between finger and thumb so as to crush him 

 effectually, after which the leaf may be cut off. 



